If they close the gyms...

[chocolatesaltyballs22]

....how the hell do they expect us to stay fit and healthy in order to give us our best chance if we get the virus? Wouldn't this be counter productive?

I'm a member of a big gym chain who have gone to a huge effort to be Covid safe. They were closed during the original lockdown and when they reopened for outdoor classes in June I honestly could have cried with relief when I went to my first class. The gym is what is keeping me sane.

Exercising outdoors is unpleasant in the winter, so I'm worried my fitness will suffer if the gyms close again. I'm waiting on the news later with dread.

Is anyone with me?

Do exercise videos at home, indoors.

You said it yourself, the gym is really for your mental health. Exercise is perfectly possible without it. That is of course easy for me to say as I loathe gyms! But I can see why people would feel depressed about it.

Something has to give to reduce the virus. Education has to be the priority this time due to being failed so badly last time. Reduced social contact has to happen somewhere, we need to prioritise and gyms etc are not as essential as schools and shops.

I'm in Scotland and only group fitness classes have stopped and you can still use the gym. I only do classes so I've had to start doing them in my house again

I've lost over 2 stone during lockdown doing home exercises. Cancelled my gym membership, no longer needed!

I’m with you OP. I have shit self discipline and was home schooling two small DC so ended up doing almost zero exercise in lockdown. Gym has made all the difference.

Sorry. I’m not with you on this one. There are alternatives and it’s really not a priority to keep gyms open.

@dementedpixie are the pools still open in Scotland as well?

I love my gym, am there 5 times a week. We haven't had a single outbreak there. Yes, it's good for my mental health as well as physical health. Lots of people go on about what they need for their mental health, I don't see why gyms should be any different to that.

The gyms simply have to stay open.

My gym is saver than my work and the school gates.

Home exercise is perfectly possible for toning and body weight, even in a small space. For Cardio, cycling, power walking and running are free.

Yes some pools are open mainly for lane swimming and swimming lessons for kids

I feel the same as you, OP. Im in Scotland so was relieved that gyms were allowed to stay open, with only changes made to group classes. If this regulation gets changed down the line, I would be deeply saddened. I've put on at least 1.5 stones over last lockdown and I am really trying to lost some of it now that the gyms are open again. My weight has a knock-on effect to self confidence and mental health, so I do feel its important.

Im at a stage now, where with the myriad of regulation changes we are being bombarded with, I've just tuned out of it. Its one rule for us mere mortals and another for the politicians who are allowed to flout the rules with seemingly no consequences (referring to MSP Ferrier who has refused to resign even though she knowingly went out and about with CoVid symptoms). She's kept her cushy £80k a year job and hasn't even been fined. But I bet that if a single mum on the breadline went to work with symptoms( because if she doesn't, her kids don't eat that week), without a doubt she will get a fine. I've had enough of the hypocrisy.

I agree OP. Not everyone has space to exercise at home nor the equipment. I did hiit workouts for weeks during lockdown and I hated it. Would much rather be in a gym where I can lift weights. I enjoy getting out of the house as well. It’s a stupid situation where gyms could be shut but fast food takeaways open.
If the government is concerned virus spreading in gyms (not that there is evidence for this) then cap the number of gym goers or insist slots have to be booked. There are solutions that can be trialled before closing the gyms outright.

I’m with you too op, I run, horse ride and do some home stuff too, but I would be absolutely gutted if gyms shut again. Ours has been brilliant since reopening, super Covid safe. It seems so niche to close them

Agree op. There's nowhere to exercise at home here, very small living room, only TV in there.

No gym has been associated with any outbreak across Europe since they started re opening in May.

Closing them now is just stupid

Many people DO NOT have the space or resources to work out at home

and Swimming pools make rather a mess of the carpet

I'd be gutted. My gym is really hot on hygiene and safety. Limited numbers, constant cleaning, separate work stations ext. I'd be so lost without it. I love weight lifting and the machines. Just don't have the space for a squat rack or Olympic bar at home

I disagree. Gyms really not a priority. I cannot for one minute can see how you keep them covid safe. Outdoor sport however defo I felt a priority.

I can cope without the gym part, but my back needs regular swimming. I spent 3 months struggling to sit up and doing physio 3 times a day. As soon as swimming reopened I started going 3 times a week and dropped the physio and my back is fine.

I agree op. I can go sit in the maccies for a burger or go to the kebab shop. I can’t go for a workout though. I can’t simply ‘exercise at home’, it just doesn’t happen. People eat most meals at home though. Why not close the crappy food outlets and keep the gyms open?

Home exercise my arse. It's not just about exercise it's about not being cooped up in the fucking house 24/7 again. This is bullshit!

I work at a gym, we are prepared that at any time we might be told to close but not directly expecting it after tonight's changes.

No, it’s a question of priorities. Schools must remain open, not just because of education, but also because of safeguarding. There are alternatives to gyms. You might not like them but you can exercise outside, it’s a question of balance. Is it ideal, no, plenty of people prefer to exercise in gyms, but in the overall picture it’s right to de prioritise. (Not that I agree with the decisions made, jello grouse shooting). I get that it’s massively disappointing for you. I personally prefer to exercise outdoors yet I don’t think you are being unreasonable to be disappointed but personally if I were you I’d start looking again at what you can do indoors or outdoors (proper kit makes a massive difference) just in case so you can keel your fitness up. Time outdoors especially has been proven to be hugely beneficial for mental health but you may need to do different types of exercise. Totally ok to be disappointed by the prospect though.

@Pumpkinnose

I disagree. Gyms really not a priority. I cannot for one minute can see how you keep them covid safe. Outdoor sport however defo I felt a priority.

I have to say I think it's non gym goers who think this. Lots of gyms have gone to a HUGE effort to be Covid safe. If you don't use one, you wouldn't know or understand that. And like someone else has pointed out, there have been no outbreaks associated with gyms.

As for outdoor sports, so it's ok for football/rugby players to huddle together is it? I don't huddle with my fellow spin class attendees. We're not even allowed to move bikes from their designated spots so as not to get too close to the next person.